The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-03
WHY THE BENEDICT FAMILY DID
NOT GO TO THE CONCERT.
By JENNIE EGGLEsToN ZIMMERMAN.

The whole family had planned to go.
Even little Annita had been promised to
be allowed to go, with the strict under
standing that she was to sit quite still
and hold up her head and Dot go to
sleep. OF course she could do all this
she meant to show them, so che jast sat
down in her own little chair, and sat per-
fectly still for five seconds. There"
cried she, jumping up again. "Can't l,
Can't II" 1 guess I've had a birf day,
and I'm not baby at air
But Anuita did not go to the concert,
nor did any OF the family. think they
would have gone, it Annita had not made
mud pies that afternoon, or ii they had
not used siiver-plated knives altogether
for the table, or if they had not had
strawberries for tea
You see Aunita could not be cured Of
making mud pies. "Time will cure her"
said her father contentedly, hunting for
decently clean spot on Annita's face to
kiss. One does not like to kiss dirt, even
on the face of ones own child. But An
nita's mother and sisters were not salts
fed to wait for the time cure, thinking of
the washing and the dirty face and hands.
Above all, thinking of the carving knife.
That was the greatest trouble. For mud
pies cannot be made without knife to
dig dirt with, and Annita never returned
c.
another OF the kitchen knives went out
TO the mud pie bakery, and never came
in again. At last there was left only
the carving knife, and the plated table
knives which could not be borrowed, be-
ing wisely kept on the top shelf of the
china closet, a region Annita had never
been able to explore.
Tea was ready at six o'clock, all except
cutting the bread, the cheese and some
cold ham. Then the carving knife could
not be found, and Florence Benedict
who had been preparing tea, went out to
look for it. The bakery had been moved
and SO evidently had the knife, for it was
no where to be seen. Then Annita had to
be found, of course. She was under the
large fir tree in the front yard, dressing
a dolly.
"Where is the carving knife, Annitap
asked Florence.
az know where it is" said Annita
without looking up.
"Well, where?" asked Florence. "Tell
me quick, dear"
Well it's only little kind of lost,
Florence" said Annita gravely. Its up
in the garrett, or else it's down in the Gel
lar, or else out by the barn, or else in the
front yard, or the back one, or-ahind
the woodpile"
"Good gracionsl Annita, do you sup
pose can go to all those places in a
hurry and tea waiting? come and help
me find it,"
''But I am 'fraid Charlotte Henrietta
will be spoiled il leave her."
"Ohl that old doll without head or legs
or arms, no she won't, dear. Come along
and help meP' said Florence.
Annita slowly left her play and began
to look for the knife with Florence.
just then, Hattie came out to ask why
tea was not served; but seeing her sisters
hunting she also joined in the search at
once. A few minutes later, Johnny be
ing hungry (Johnny was always hungry
came out to help the girls. When Mrs.
Benedict saw them all wandering about
through the shrubbery, looking intently
at the grass, she knew Immediately what
had happened, SO she came out, and began
to look too.
Sam and Henry came along just then,
and as these family promenades in search
of the carving knife had often been taken
before, they knew just what was wanted,
and also that they could have no tea
until the knife was found. So they join
ed in the search, though do not think
their help would have ever found any
thing for Sam had new boots and had to
look at them most of the time. and Hen.
ny whose name was William Henry Har.
rison, and who was TO be a celebrity
anu iOuLA III hIC
walk and scratched his head. That was
the way he always hunted his hat.
1t was not long before Mr. Benedict
came in through the front gate bringing
some boxes of Strawberries for tea. These
he put down on the piazza in order to
help the rest find the knife. OF course
everybody looked in the same spot. An
nita and Florence went out to bare spo,
on the north side in the house where the
bakery was generally located and hunted
carefully, but the knife was not to be-
seen. Then Mrs. Benedict knowing how
earelessly the children always looked
ollo wed them. Mr.. Benedict could moi